Manager, R&D S&R

Job Location: Hershey, PA

ROLE OVERVIEW:

Responsible for managing transformative Sweets & Refreshment Product Development platforms within R&D focusing on brands such as Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, and Ice Breakers. Lead the development and commercialization of innovative confectionery products (e.g., hard candy, gummies, licorice, gum, mints). Manage project execution, support continuous improvement, and ensure alignment with business objectives. 

Lead a team of approximately 4 scientists and technicians supporting various workstreams. Collaborate with cross-functional partners in Marketing, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality to deliver projects on time and within scope. Mentor and develop direct reports and provide technical project support as needed on high complexity projects.

Work with direct reports to determine goals and timetables for projects, and ensure diligence in development, scale up, and commercialization of products and technologies. Provide technical expertise leveraging product and process development principles and validation methodologies. Resolve resource allocation and timing issues to ensure that business objectives are achieved or exceeded.

Summary of Major Duties:

Develop and Execute Transformative Sweets & Refreshment Innovation: 
• Manage the end-to-end process for new product and process development, from concept through commercialization.
• Collaborate with business partners in Consumer Insights, Marketing, Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality to develop strategic direction and assess risk to ensure the company’s business needs are met.
• In partnership with department leadership, allocate resources between programs and work with team leaders of the programs to set priorities, goals, and timetables for projects, and deliver on required results. 
• Ensure diligence in development, scale up, and commercialization of products and technologies through technical mentoring and leadership.
Develop and Execute Sweets Brand Technical Support and CI Initiatives:
• As needed, work with business partners to allocate resources, set priorities, goals and timetables for Business Continuity and Cost Improvement related projects, and deliver on required results.
• Ensure diligence in development and scale up by coaching team members through internal governance processes and collaboration with sensory.
Talent & Organizational Development:
• Provide overall leadership as it relates to organization structure and people development. Attract, lead, and mentor employees in such a way to ensure retention, development, and high performance of talent.

Dimensions
• Lead a team of 4 professional staff including scientists and technicians.
• Potentially supervise additional interns or contractors as needed for specific projects.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Demonstrated leadership and project management skills including critical and strategic thinking.
• Technical experience in confectionery R&D (hard candy, gummies, licorice, gum, mints).
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities with the ability to engage other teams and functions.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills including presentations to senior leadership.
• Ability to drive change and foster innovation in both products and ways of working.
• Experience with commercialization and scale-up of new products.
• Approximately 25% travel required, primarily within the US, but including occasional international travel.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related field required with 7+ years of applicable experience. Additional applicable education will be credited towards the applicants qualifications.
Experience:
• Has successfully led New Product Development and innovation programs within a company known for best-in-class innovation and NPD processes.
• Strong knowledge of confection platforms, technologies, and formulation strategies.
• Proven history in developing and commercializing confections and/or snacks including pilot plant and full-scale manufacturing testing and implementation.
• Ability to partner with Sensory and Consumer Insight to develop and execute consumer learning strategies.
• New product concept development and project management through stage gate process while identifying resource needs, project risks, and business alignment.
• Ability to partner with cross functional team members to align on project deliverables, risks, and timing to deliver business goals.
• Proven people leader with ability to develop career growth and team engagement strategies.